News | 12 December 2025
United by Music: Students Show Creativity in Electrifying Fundraising Concert
Young musicians from IES Årsta and IES Solna joined forces to raise 6000 SEK for their upcoming prom by performing for classmates, friends and family.
The stage lights were bright and the amps turned up loud as students from Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) Årsta and IES Solna came together for a spectacular Prom Fundraiser Concert. Described by staff as "the best we've done," the event was not just a musical showcase, but a testament to the students’ dedication, collaboration, and agency.
The concert featured nine dynamic acts—eight student bands and one staff band—performing for an enthusiastic audience of approximately 80 people. The ticket sales raised a total of SEK 6 000, splitting a helpful SEK 3 000 contribution toward the prom decorations for each school’s year nine celebration.
Year eight student Ira, from IES Årsta, provided one of the night’s standout moments. Accompanied by staff band, Fake Impala, she performed vocals for the song "Pressure" by Paramore.
"I saw it more of an opportunity to perform rather than just to raise money," Ira explained. Despite admitting she was nervous beforehand, the supportive environment helped her thrive. "Once I got on stage, I got so much adrenaline that I just went with the flow. I just felt the stage was my place to express myself."
Chloé, a year-nine student at IES Solna took to the stage with her bandmates Ludvig and Nathalie for their eighth gig as the event’s headline act, Rubber Band.
She said: "If I could give any advice to someone who gets nervous before performing it would be that making mistakes on stage is completely fine and I can easily say that we make loads of mistakes. But the crowd won't notice it as much as you do. It's really nothing to worry about. One last thing, performing and the connection you get with the audience, is like no other feeling."
Nathalie added: “It feels great to help out towards getting a better prom for our grade. It makes us feel important too.”
According to staff, the fundraising aspect is vital for fostering student ownership.
Joshua Harris who played in Fake Impala, and helped organise the event, emphasised that the reward lies in the effort: "It means so much to them. If they're invested in their own prom, then it's going to be a greater experience for them at the end of the year."
Kayley Clark, who also helped organise the event, said: "These kinds of collaboration concerts allows students to show off their skills and meet each other. It's really great for not just our students, but for the students at multiple schools to come together."
The event also highlighted the IES core value of "grit"—the determination to challenge oneself and not give up. For many students, stepping onto the stage meant overcoming nerves to share their creativity.
This aligns with the IES philosophy of the "safe and calm" environment extending to extracurriculars. Mr Harris described the concert setting as a "soft cushion" that encourages students to excel: "It is a place of comfort because it's not random strangers; it is their own peers, their own teachers, and their families giving them that push to excel."
For Ira, the experience was transformative, turning anxiety into joy. She said: "For me, music and singing is obviously a big way to have an outlet for my creativity. It is a hobby outside of all of the stress and all of the anxiety of tests and lessons."